In Ohio, an SR-22 (also called a certificate of insurance or bond) is required when a driver’s license is suspended for non‑compliance with the state’s proof‑of‑insurance law. A suspension is placed when a driver cannot show proof of insurance at a traffic stop or at the time of an accident, and anyone serving such a suspension must file an SR-22 to have coverage on file with the BMV.
The SR-22 must be submitted by the driver’s insurance company through the BMV’s Proof Filing/Proof Cancellation Web Processing System as soon as the insurance policy is signed. The filing must remain active for at least one year; for first‑offense non‑compliance recorded before April 9 2025 the requirement is three years, and for a second or subsequent offense within five years before that date the requirement extends to five years. If the policy is cancelled, the insurer must send an SR-26 proof cancellation, which re‑suspends the license until a new filing is received.
To reinstate the license, the driver must satisfy the suspension period (if any), maintain the SR-22 for the required timeframe, and pay the reinstatement fee noted on the BMV website. The BMV provides an online “View & Pay Reinstatement Fees” service for fee payment, and the suspension will be lifted once all conditions are met.